Background
Sunflower Nature Park is a 57-acre park just south of K-10 Highway near Edgerton Road at 36915 W. 103rd Street. The park currently features a paved one-mile loop trail, a small fishing lake, one picnic shelter, two parking lots, two restroom buildings, and two ball fields adjacent to the nature area. Dedicated in 1984, the park had over 46,000 visitors in 2007.

Planning Process
In April, 2008, a consulting team headed by Bowman Bowman Novick, Inc., of Kansas City, Missouri, was hired to develop a master plan for the park. At a planning workshop at the De Soto Senior Center on June 2, members of the public had an opportunity to review site maps and suggest features they would like to see included in the park's master plan.


A second public workshop was held at the De Soto Senior Center on August 11. The consultants presented the proposed master plans they had developed since the initial workshop for Sunflower Nature Park and the Rieke Lake future park site. Those attending the workshop had an opportunity to review and comment on the plans for both properties.

Members of the public may provide additional input on the proposed plans by sending comments to JCPRD Park Plans, 411 Nichols Road, Suite 246, Kansas City, MO, 64112, or emailing them to JCPRDcomments@bbnarchitects.com. Emails should include "JCPRD Park Plans" in the subject line.

It is anticipated development of the master plan for Sunflower Nature Park will continue through the summer and early fall. The consulting team is tentatively scheduled to present a completed plan to the District board in October. Implementation of the new master plan will be subject to fund availability and board approval.